1
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Hounjet J, Van Aerschot L, De Keersmaecker K, Vooijs M, Kampen KR. The DMT1 isoform lacking the iron-response element regulates normal and malignant hematopoiesis via NOTCH pathway activation. FEBS Lett 2024; 598:1506-1512. [PMID: 38594214 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 2 (NRAMP 2; also known as DMT1 and encoded by SLC11A2) is mainly known for its iron transport activity. Recently, the DMT1 isoform lacking the iron-response element (nonIRE) was associated with aberrant NOTCH pathway activity. In this report, we investigated the function of DMT1 nonIRE in normal and malignant hematopoiesis. Knockdown of Dmt1 nonIRE in mice showed that it has non-canonical functions in hematopoietic stem cell differentiation: its knockdown suppressed development along the myeloid and lymphoid lineages, while promoting the production of platelets. These phenotypic effects on the hematopoietic system induced by Dmt1 nonIRE knockdown were linked to suppression of Notch/Myc pathway activity. Conversely, our data indicate a non-canonical function for DMT1 nonIRE overexpression in boosting NOTCH pathway activity in T-cell leukemia homeobox protein 1 (TLX1)-defective leukemia. This work sets the stage for future investigation using a multiple-hit T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) model to further investigate the function of DMT1 nonIRE in T-ALL disease development and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Hounjet
- Department of Radiation Oncology (Maastro), GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands
| | - Linde Van Aerschot
- Laboratory for Disease Mechanisms in Cancer, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Belgium
| | - Kim De Keersmaecker
- Laboratory for Disease Mechanisms in Cancer, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Belgium
| | - Marc Vooijs
- Department of Radiation Oncology (Maastro), GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands
| | - Kim R Kampen
- Department of Radiation Oncology (Maastro), GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands
- Laboratory for Disease Mechanisms in Cancer, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Belgium
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2
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Bauer K, Hauswirth A, Gleixner KV, Greiner G, Thaler J, Bettelheim P, Filik Y, Koller E, Hoermann G, Staber PB, Sperr WR, Keil F, Valent P. BRD4 degraders may effectively counteract therapeutic resistance of leukemic stem cells in AML and ALL. Am J Hematol 2024. [PMID: 38822666 DOI: 10.1002/ajh.27385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are life-threatening hematopoietic malignancies characterized by clonal expansion of leukemic blasts in the bone marrow and peripheral blood. The epigenetic reader BRD4 and its downstream effector MYC have recently been identified as potential drug targets in human AML and ALL. We compared anti-leukemic efficacies of the small-molecule BET inhibitor JQ1 and the recently developed BRD4 degraders dBET1 and dBET6 in AML and ALL cells. JQ1, dBET1, and dBET6 were found to suppress growth and viability in all AML and ALL cell lines examined as well as in primary patient-derived AML and ALL cells, including CD34+/CD38- and CD34+/CD38+ leukemic stem and progenitor cells, independent of the type (variant) of leukemia or molecular driver expressed in leukemic cells. Moreover, we found that dBET6 overcomes osteoblast-induced drug resistance in AML and ALL cells, regardless of the type of leukemia or the drug applied. Most promising cooperative or even synergistic drug combination effects were seen with dBET6 and the FLT3 ITD blocker gilteritinib in FLT3 ITD-mutated AML cells, and with dBET6 and the multi-kinase blocker ponatinib in BCR::ABL1+ ALL cells. Finally, all BRD4-targeting drugs suppressed interferon-gamma- and tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced expression of the resistance-related checkpoint antigen PD-L1 in AML and ALL cells, including LSC. In all assays examined, the BRD4 degrader dBET6 was a superior anti-leukemic drug compared with dBET1 and JQ1. Together, BRD4 degraders may provide enhanced inhibition of multiple mechanisms of therapy resistance in AML and ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Bauer
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander Hauswirth
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Karoline V Gleixner
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg Greiner
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Ihr Labor, Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, Vienna, Austria
| | - Johannes Thaler
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Yüksel Filik
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Elisabeth Koller
- Third Medical Department for Hematology and Oncology, Hanusch Hospital Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gregor Hoermann
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory, Munich, Germany
| | - Philipp B Staber
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang R Sperr
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Felix Keil
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Third Medical Department for Hematology and Oncology, Hanusch Hospital Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Valent
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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3
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Winer H, Li W, Rodrigues G, Gower T, Meyer TJ, Hixon J, Durum SK. Mechanism of co-operation of mutant IL-7Rα and mutant NRAS in acute lymphoblastic leukemia: role of MYC. Haematologica 2024; 109:1726-1740. [PMID: 38031763 PMCID: PMC11141644 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2023.283559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is an aggressive leukemia which can be derived from either T-cell or B-cell precursors. With current treatments, the survival rate is high, but the treatments are highly toxic with severe side effects. Individual mutations in IL7Ra and RAS pathways have been previously shown to be prevalent in ALL, and especially in relapsed patients. The relationship of IL-7Ra and RAS was investigated by transducing immature mouse thymocytes with the combination of these mutants. The resultant ALL cells were analyzed to identify the regulators and the oncoproteins that are up-regulated or down-regulated by the combination of IL7Ra with NRAS. Leukemia cells showed a significant increase in IL7Ra-mediated BCL2 expression, and an increase in MYC protein levels was mainly induced by NRAS signaling. MYC was both necessary and sufficient to replace mutant NRAS, and drugs targeting the MYC pathway showed a therapeutic benefit in IL-7Ra/NRAS T-ALL. We suggest that MYC protein stability can be regulated by PLK-1 kinase, which was increased mainly by the NRAS signal. These studies identify novel pathways of oncogenesis and new targets for intervention that could lead to better therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hila Winer
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Cancer Innovation Laboratory (CIL), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Frederick, MD
| | - Wenqing Li
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Cancer Innovation Laboratory (CIL), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Frederick, MD
| | - Gisele Rodrigues
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Cancer Innovation Laboratory (CIL), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Frederick, MD
| | - Tim Gower
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Cancer Innovation Laboratory (CIL), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Frederick, MD
| | - Thomas Joshua Meyer
- CCR Collaborative Bioinformatics Resource (CCBR), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Frederick, MD
| | - Julie Hixon
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Cancer Innovation Laboratory (CIL), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Frederick, MD
| | - Scott K Durum
- Cytokines and Immunity Section, Cancer Innovation Laboratory (CIL), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Frederick, MD.
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4
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O'Connor KW, Kishimoto K, Kuzma IO, Wagner KP, Selway JS, Roderick JE, Karna KK, Gallagher KM, Hu K, Liu H, Li R, Brehm MA, Zhu LJ, Curtis DJ, Tremblay CS, Kelliher MA. The role of quiescent thymic progenitors in TAL/LMO2-induced T-ALL chemotolerance. Leukemia 2024; 38:951-962. [PMID: 38553571 PMCID: PMC11073972 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-024-02232-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Relapse in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) may signify the persistence of leukemia-initiating cells (L-ICs). Ectopic TAL1/LMO expression defines the largest subset of T-ALL, but its role in leukemic transformation and its impact on relapse-driving L-ICs remain poorly understood. In TAL1/LMO mouse models, double negative-3 (DN3; CD4-CD8-CD25+CD44-) thymic progenitors harbored L-ICs. However, only a subset of DN3 leukemic cells exhibited L-IC activity, and studies linking L-ICs and chemotolerance are needed. To investigate L-IC heterogeneity, we used mouse models and applied single-cell RNA-sequencing and nucleosome labeling techniques in vivo. We identified a DN3 subpopulation with a cell cycle-restricted profile and heightened TAL1/LMO2 activity, that expressed genes associated with stemness and quiescence. This dormant DN3 subset progressively expanded throughout leukemogenesis, displaying intrinsic chemotolerance and enrichment in genes linked to minimal residual disease. Examination of TAL/LMO patient samples revealed a similar pattern in CD7+CD1a- thymic progenitors, previously recognized for their L-IC activity, demonstrating cell cycle restriction and chemotolerance. Our findings substantiate the emergence of dormant, chemotolerant L-ICs during leukemogenesis, and demonstrate that Tal1 and Lmo2 cooperate to promote DN3 quiescence during the transformation process. This study provides a deeper understanding of TAL1/LMO-induced T-ALL and its clinical implications in therapy failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin W O'Connor
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Kensei Kishimoto
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Irena O Kuzma
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Kelsey P Wagner
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Jonathan S Selway
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Justine E Roderick
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Keshab K Karna
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Kayleigh M Gallagher
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Kai Hu
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Haibo Liu
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Rui Li
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Michael A Brehm
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Lihua Julie Zhu
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - David J Curtis
- Australian Centre for Blood Diseases (ACBD), Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Cedric S Tremblay
- Department of Immunology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0T5, Canada
- Paul Albrechtsen Research Institute CCMB, CancerCare Manitoba (CCMB), Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0V9, Canada
| | - Michelle A Kelliher
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
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5
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Zhang B, Sun R, Gu M, Jiang Z, Wang Y, Zhang L, Liu X, Chi Z. RNA-binding protein NOVA1 promotes acute T-lymphocyte leukemia progression by stabilizing USP44 mRNA. Biochem Cell Biol 2024; 102:60-72. [PMID: 37816258 DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2023-0092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute T-lymphocyte leukemia (T-ALL) is a malignant tumor disease. RNA-binding protein neotumor ventral antigen-1 (NOVA1) is highly expressed in bone marrow mononuclear cells of T-ALL patients, while the role of NOVA1 in T-ALL progression remains unknown. The gain- and loss-of-function studies for NOVA1 were performed in Jurkat and CCRF-CEM cells. NOVA1 overexpression promoted cell proliferation and cell cycle progression. NOVA1 knockdown increased the apoptosis rate of T-ALL cells. Ubiquitin-specific protease 44 (USP44), a nuclear protein with deubiquitinase catalytic activity, has been reported to play an oncogene role in human T-cell leukemia. USP44 expression was positively associated with NOVA1, and RNA immunoprecipitation assay verified the binding of NOVA1 to the mRNA of USP44. USP44 knockdown partially abolished NOVA1-induced cell proliferation and inhibition of apoptosis. The in vivo xenograft experiment was performed by injection of T-ALL tumor cells into the tail vein of NOD/SCID mice. The knockdown of NOVA1 had lower tumorigenicity. NOVA1 knockdown alleviated pathological changes in lung and spleen tissues, and increased the overall survival period and the weight of T-ALL mice. Thus, NOVA1 acts as an accelerator in T-ALL, and its function might be achieved by binding to and stabilizing USP44 mRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Zhang
- The First Department of Pediatric HematologyShengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning, China
| | - Ruowen Sun
- The Second Department of Pediatric HematologyShengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning, China
| | - Min Gu
- The Second Department of Pediatric HematologyShengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning, China
| | - Zehui Jiang
- The Second Department of Pediatric HematologyShengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning, China
| | - Ye Wang
- The Second Department of Pediatric HematologyShengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning, China
| | - Linlin Zhang
- The Second Department of Pediatric HematologyShengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning, China
| | - Xiaoyang Liu
- The Second Department of Pediatric HematologyShengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning, China
| | - Zuofei Chi
- The Second Department of Pediatric HematologyShengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning, China
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6
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Umphred-Wilson K, Ratnayake S, Tang Q, Wang R, Devaiah BN, Zhou L, Chen Q, Meerzaman D, Singer DS, Adoro S. The ESCRT protein CHMP5 promotes T cell leukemia by controlling BRD4-p300-dependent transcription. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.29.577409. [PMID: 38352301 PMCID: PMC10862731 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.29.577409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Oncogene activity rewires cellular transcription, creating new transcription networks to which cancer cells become addicted, by mechanisms that are still poorly understood. Using human and mouse models of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), we identify an essential nuclear role for CHMP5, a cytoplasmic endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) protein, in establishing and maintaining the T-ALL transcriptional program. Nuclear CHMP5 promoted the T-ALL gene program by augmenting recruitment of the co-activator BRD4 by the histone acetyl transferase p300 selectively at enhancers and super-enhancers, an interaction that potentiated H3K27 acetylation at these regulatory enhancers. Consequently, loss of CHMP5 diminished BRD4 occupancy at enhancers and super-enhancers and impaired RNA polymerase II pause release, which resulted in downregulation of key T-ALL genes, notably MYC. Reinforcing its importance in T-ALL pathogenesis, CHMP5 deficiency mitigated chemoresistance in human T-ALL cells and abrogated T-ALL induction by oncogenic NOTCH1 in vivo. Thus, the ESCRT protein CHMP5 is an essential positive regulator of the transcriptional machinery promoting T-ALL disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharine Umphred-Wilson
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
- Immunology Training Program, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Shashikala Ratnayake
- Computational Genomics and Bioinformatics Branch, Center for Biomedical Informatics & Information Technology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20850
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Qianzi Tang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University; Chengdu 611130, China
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Rui Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University; Chengdu 611130, China
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Ballachanda N. Devaiah
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Lan Zhou
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Qingrong Chen
- Computational Genomics and Bioinformatics Branch, Center for Biomedical Informatics & Information Technology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20850
| | - Daoud Meerzaman
- Computational Genomics and Bioinformatics Branch, Center for Biomedical Informatics & Information Technology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20850
| | - Dinah S Singer
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Stanley Adoro
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
- Lead contact
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7
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Melnick AF, Mullin C, Lin K, McCarter AC, Liang S, Liu YE, Wang Q, Jerome NA, Choe E, Kunnath N, Bodanapu G, Akter F, Magnuson B, Kumar S, Lombard DB, Muntean AG, Ljungman M, Sekiguchi J, Ryan RJH, Chiang MY. Cdc73 protects Notch-induced T-cell leukemia cells from DNA damage and mitochondrial stress. Blood 2023; 142:2159-2174. [PMID: 37616559 PMCID: PMC10733839 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2023020144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Activated Notch signaling is highly prevalent in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), but pan-Notch inhibitors showed excessive toxicity in clinical trials. To find alternative ways to target Notch signals, we investigated cell division cycle 73 (Cdc73), which is a Notch cofactor and key component of the RNA polymerase-associated transcriptional machinery, an emerging target in T-ALL. Although we confirmed previous work that CDC73 interacts with NOTCH1, we also found that the interaction in T-ALL was context-dependent and facilitated by the transcription factor ETS1. Using mouse models, we showed that Cdc73 is important for Notch-induced T-cell development and T-ALL maintenance. Mechanistically, chromatin and nascent gene expression profiling showed that Cdc73 intersects with Ets1 and Notch at chromatin within enhancers to activate expression of known T-ALL oncogenes through its enhancer functions. Cdc73 also intersects with these factors within promoters to activate transcription of genes that are important for DNA repair and oxidative phosphorylation through its gene body functions. Consistently, Cdc73 deletion induced DNA damage and apoptosis and impaired mitochondrial function. The CDC73-induced DNA repair expression program co-opted by NOTCH1 is more highly expressed in T-ALL than in any other cancer. These data suggest that Cdc73 might induce a gene expression program that was eventually intersected and hijacked by oncogenic Notch to augment proliferation and mitigate the genotoxic and metabolic stresses of elevated Notch signaling. Our report supports studying factors such as CDC73 that intersect with Notch to derive a basic scientific understanding on how to combat Notch-dependent cancers without directly targeting the Notch complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley F. Melnick
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Carea Mullin
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Karena Lin
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Anna C. McCarter
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Shannon Liang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Yiran E. Liu
- Cancer Biology Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Qing Wang
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Nicole A. Jerome
- Cancer Biology Program, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Elizabeth Choe
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Nicholas Kunnath
- Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Geethika Bodanapu
- School of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Fatema Akter
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Brian Magnuson
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Surinder Kumar
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL
| | - David B. Lombard
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL
| | - Andrew G. Muntean
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Mats Ljungman
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Radiology Oncology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - JoAnn Sekiguchi
- Cancer Biology Program, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Russell J. H. Ryan
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
- Cancer Biology Program, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Mark Y. Chiang
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
- Cancer Biology Program, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
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8
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Ma T, Chen Y, Yi ZG, Li YH, Bai J, Li LJ, Zhang LS. BET in hematologic tumors: Immunity, pathogenesis, clinical trials and drug combinations. Genes Dis 2023; 10:2306-2319. [PMID: 37554207 PMCID: PMC10404881 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2022.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) proteins act as "readers" for lysine acetylation and facilitate the recruitment of transcriptional elongation complexes. BET protein is associated with transcriptional elongation of genes such as c-MYC and BCL-2, and is involved in the regulation of cell cycle and apoptosis. Meanwhile, BET inhibitors (BETi) have regulatory effects on immune checkpoints, immune cells, and cytokine expression. The role of BET proteins and BETi in a variety of tumors has been studied. This paper reviews the recent research progress of BET and BETi in hematologic tumors (mainly leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma) from cellular level studies, animal studies, clinical trials, drug combination, etc. BETi has a promising future in hematologic tumors, and future research directions may focus on the combination with other drugs to improve the efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Ma
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
- Department of Hematology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Zhi-Gang Yi
- Department of Hematology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - Yan-Hong Li
- Department of Hematology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - Jun Bai
- Department of Hematology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - Li-Juan Li
- Department of Hematology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - Lian-Sheng Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
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9
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Zhang X, Geng L, Yang L, Wang Y, Zou Z, Zhang Y, Xu H, Lei H, Cao Y, Wu Y, Gu W, Zhou L. Anlotinib exerts an anti-T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia effect in vitro and in vivo. Cell Signal 2023; 110:110837. [PMID: 37544636 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2023.110837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite some progress having been made regarding the treatment of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), the prognosis of T-ALL, particularly adult T-ALL, is still poor. Identifying novel, effective anti-T-ALL drugs is of great significance. Anlotinib, an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor currently utilized in the treatment of lung cancer, exhibited a promising anti-T-ALL effect. A comprehensive study should therefore be conducted to explore both the in vitro as well as in vivo mechanisms of the anti-T-ALL effects of anlotinib. METHODS CCK8 assays and flow cytometry were employed to investigate the viability, cell cycle distribution, and apoptosis of T-ALL cell lines when treated with anlotinib. T-ALL xenograft mouse models were established to examine the in vivo antileukemic effects of anlotinib. Cellular and molecular analysis of T-ALL were conducted to define the underlying mechanisms. RESULTS In vitro, anlotinib significantly inhibited the viability, induced G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis in T-ALL cell lines in a concentration-dependent pattern. In vivo, anlotinib also demonstrated a strong anti-tumor effect at doses that are well-tolerated. Interestingly, anlotinib could decrease the protein levels of the intracellular domains of NOTCH1 (ICN1) and c-Myc, two important targets for T-ALL. Mechanistically, anlotinib-induced c-Myc reduction was associated with proteasome-mediated degradation, while the ICN1 reduction was not due to protein degradation or transcriptional repression. CONCLUSIONS The present study showed that anlotinib may be a promising anti-T-ALL candidate drug, and simultaneous reduction of the protein levels of both ICN1 and c-Myc may contribute to the anti-T-ALL efficacy of anlotinib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingming Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai 9th People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Rd, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Lou Geng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai 9th People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Rd, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Li Yang
- Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital / Faculty of Basic Medicine, Chemical Biology Division of Shanghai Universities E-Institutes, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Yingying Wang
- Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital / Faculty of Basic Medicine, Chemical Biology Division of Shanghai Universities E-Institutes, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Zhihui Zou
- Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital / Faculty of Basic Medicine, Chemical Biology Division of Shanghai Universities E-Institutes, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Youping Zhang
- Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital / Faculty of Basic Medicine, Chemical Biology Division of Shanghai Universities E-Institutes, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Hanzhang Xu
- Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital / Faculty of Basic Medicine, Chemical Biology Division of Shanghai Universities E-Institutes, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Hu Lei
- Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital / Faculty of Basic Medicine, Chemical Biology Division of Shanghai Universities E-Institutes, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Yang Cao
- Department of Hematology, The First People's Hospital of Changzhou, Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu Province P.R. 213003, China
| | - Yingli Wu
- Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital / Faculty of Basic Medicine, Chemical Biology Division of Shanghai Universities E-Institutes, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Wenli Gu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai 9th People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Rd, Shanghai 200011, China.
| | - Li Zhou
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.197, Ruijin Er Road, Shanghai 200025, China.
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10
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Melnick A, Liang S, Liu Y, Wang Q, Dean N, Choe E, Kunnath N, Bodanapu G, Mullin C, Akter F, Lin K, Magnuson B, Kumar S, Lombard DB, Muntean AG, Ljungman M, Sekiguchi J, Ryan RJH, Chiang MY. Cdc73 protects Notch-induced T-cell leukemia cells from DNA damage and mitochondrial stress. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.22.525059. [PMID: 36711472 PMCID: PMC9882378 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.22.525059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Activated Notch signaling is highly prevalent in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) but pan-Notch inhibitors were toxic in clinical trials. To find alternative ways to target Notch signals, we investigated Cell division cycle 73 (Cdc73), which is a Notch cofactor and component of transcriptional machinery, a potential target in T-ALL. While we confirmed previous work that CDC73 interacts with NOTCH1, we also found that the interaction in T-ALL was context-dependent and facilitated by the lymphoid transcription factor ETS1. Using mouse models, we showed that Cdc73 is important for Notch-induced T-cell development and T-ALL maintenance. Mechanistically, Cdc73, Ets1, and Notch intersect chromatin at promoters and enhancers to activate oncogenes and genes that are important for DNA repair and oxidative phosphorylation. Consistently, Cdc73 deletion in T-ALL cells induced DNA damage and impaired mitochondrial function. Our data suggests that Cdc73 might promote a gene expression program that was eventually intersected by Notch to mitigate the genotoxic and metabolic stresses of elevated Notch signaling. We also provide mechanistic support for testing inhibitors of DNA repair, oxidative phosphorylation, and transcriptional machinery. Inhibiting pathways like Cdc73 that intersect with Notch at chromatin might constitute a strategy to weaken Notch signals without directly targeting the Notch complex.
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11
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Toribio ML, González-García S. Notch Partners in the Long Journey of T-ALL Pathogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021383. [PMID: 36674902 PMCID: PMC9866461 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematological disease that arises from the oncogenic transformation of developing T cells during T-lymphopoiesis. Although T-ALL prognosis has improved markedly in recent years, relapsing and refractory patients with dismal outcomes still represent a major clinical issue. Consequently, understanding the pathological mechanisms that lead to the appearance of this malignancy and developing novel and more effective targeted therapies is an urgent need. Since the discovery in 2004 that a major proportion of T-ALL patients carry activating mutations that turn NOTCH1 into an oncogene, great efforts have been made to decipher the mechanisms underlying constitutive NOTCH1 activation, with the aim of understanding how NOTCH1 dysregulation converts the physiological NOTCH1-dependent T-cell developmental program into a pathological T-cell transformation process. Several molecular players have so far been shown to cooperate with NOTCH1 in this oncogenic process, and different therapeutic strategies have been developed to specifically target NOTCH1-dependent T-ALLs. Here, we comprehensively analyze the molecular bases of the cross-talk between NOTCH1 and cooperating partners critically involved in the generation and/or maintenance and progression of T-ALL and discuss novel opportunities and therapeutic approaches that current knowledge may open for future treatment of T-ALL patients.
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12
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Thomas X. T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: promising experimental drugs in clinical development. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2023; 32:37-52. [PMID: 36541671 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2023.2161361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite advances in treatment approaches in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the prognosis of adults with newly diagnosed T-ALL remains poor, as well as that of adults and children with relapsed disease. Novel targeted therapies are therefore needed. AREAS COVERED This review summarizes promising emerging strategies for the treatment of T-ALL. EXPERT OPINION The recent molecular characterization of T-ALL has led to the identification of new therapeutic targets. Small-molecules inhibitors and other targeted therapies have therefore been recently developed and are currently under clinical investigations. Similarly, first studies involving monoclonal antibodies and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have shown encouraging results. Improvement of outcome with these novel approaches, eventually combined with current standard chemotherapy, is therefore expected in a near future in T-ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Thomas
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, Department of Clinical Hematology, Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Pierre Bénite, France
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13
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Zhang Z, Yang K, Zhang H. Targeting Leukemia-Initiating Cells and Leukemic Niches: The Next Therapy Station for T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia? Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14225655. [PMID: 36428753 PMCID: PMC9688677 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14225655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive subtype of hematological malignancy characterized by its high heterogeneity and potentially life-threatening clinical features. Despite the advances in risk stratification and therapeutic management of T-ALL, patients often suffer from treatment failure and chemotherapy-induced toxicity, calling for greater efforts to improve therapeutic efficacy and safety in the treatment of T-ALL. During the past decades, increasing evidence has shown the indispensable effects of leukemia-initiating cells (LICs) and leukemic niches on T-ALL initiation and progression. These milestones greatly facilitate precision medicine by interfering with the pathways that are associated with LICs and leukemic niches or by targeting themselves directly. Most of these novel agents, either alone or in combination with conventional chemotherapy, have shown promising preclinical results, facilitating them to be further evaluated under clinical trials. In this review, we summarize the latest discoveries in LICs and leukemic niches in terms of T-ALL, with a particular highlight on the current precision medicine. The challenges and future prospects are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziting Zhang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China
| | - Kun Yang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Han Zhang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-158-7796-3252
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14
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Lim FQ, Chan ASY, Yokomori R, Huang XZ, Theardy MS, Yeoh AEJ, Tan SH, Sanda T. Targeting dual oncogenic machineries driven by TAL1 and PI3K-AKT pathways in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Haematologica 2022; 108:367-381. [PMID: 36073513 PMCID: PMC9890034 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2022.280761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a malignancy of thymic T-cell precursors. Overexpression of oncogenic transcription factor TAL1 is observed in 40-60% of human T-ALL cases, frequently together with activation of the NOTCH1 and PI3K-AKT pathways. In this study, we performed chemical screening to identify small molecules that can inhibit the enhancer activity driven by TAL1 using the GIMAP enhancer reporter system. Among approximately 3,000 compounds, PIK- 75, a known inhibitor of PI3K and CDK, was found to strongly inhibit the enhancer activity. Mechanistic analysis demonstrated that PIK-75 blocks transcriptional activity, which primarily affects TAL1 target genes as well as AKT activity. TAL1-positive, AKT-activated T-ALL cells were very sensitive to PIK-75, as evidenced by growth inhibition and apoptosis induction, while T-ALL cells that exhibited activation of the JAK-STAT pathway were insensitive to this drug. Together, our study demonstrates a strategy targeting two types of core machineries mediated by oncogenic transcription factors and signaling pathways in T-ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Qi Lim
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore
| | | | - Rui Yokomori
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore
| | - Xiao Zi Huang
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore
| | | | - Allen Eng Juh Yeoh
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore,VIVA-NUS CenTRAL, Department of Pediatrics, National University of Singapore
| | - Shi Hao Tan
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore
| | - Takaomi Sanda
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore; Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117599.
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15
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Naidoo DB, Phulukdaree A, Krishnan A, Chuturgoon AA, Sewram V. Centella asiatica Modulates Nrf-2 Antioxidant Mechanisms and Enhances Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Apoptotic Cell Death in Leukemic (THP-1) Cells. J Med Food 2022; 25:760-769. [PMID: 35675643 DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2021.0173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Centella asiatica is commonly used in traditional medicine owing to its many therapeutic properties including but not limited to antioxidant and antitumor potential. This study examined the antioxidant and antiproliferative effects of its crude (C) and fractionated (C3) ethanolic leaf extracts in THP-1 cells. In THP-1 cells, C and C3 cytotoxicity was evaluated (WST-1 viability assay; 24 h; [0.2-3 mg/mL]) and half maximal inhibitory concentration was obtained. Malondialdehyde (MDA; spectrophotometry), mitochondrial depolarization (Δψm), intracellular reactive oxygen species (IROS; flow cytometry), glutathione (GSH), oxidized GSH (GSSG) concentrations, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels, caspase activities (luminometry) and DNA fragmentation (single cell gel electrophoresis assay) were evaluated. Protein expression and gene expression was quantified by Western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. THP-1 cell viability was dose-dependently reduced by C and C3. MDA, IROS, GSH, and Δψm were increased and ATP was decreased by C and C3 (P < .01). Antioxidant gene expression, Nrf-2 protein expression, and GSSG levels (P < .01) were increased by C, but were decreased by C3. C and C3 elevated caspase activity and DNA damage (P < .0001), whereas they decreased glutathione peroxidase and Bcl-2 protein expressions (P < .003). c-PARP protein expression and c-myc gene expression was decreased by C, whereas they were increased by C3 (P < .002). C3 reduced OGG-1 gene expression (P < .0003). Antioxidant responses were increased by C, whereas they were decreased by C3. Both C and C3 exerted antiproliferative effects in THP-1 cells by enhancing apoptosis. Of note, C3 more effectively induced apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhaneshree Bestinee Naidoo
- Discipline of Medical Biochemistry and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Howard College, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Alisa Phulukdaree
- Discipline of Medical Biochemistry and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Howard College, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Anand Krishnan
- Discipline of Medical Biochemistry and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Howard College, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Anil Amichund Chuturgoon
- Discipline of Medical Biochemistry and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Howard College, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Vikash Sewram
- African Cancer Institute, Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
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16
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Genetic characterization and drug sensitivity study of newly derived HGBL double/triple-hit lymphoma cell lines. Blood Adv 2022; 6:5067-5071. [PMID: 35687491 PMCID: PMC9631616 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2021006709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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17
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Oliveira ML, Veloso A, Garcia EG, Iyer S, Pereira C, Barreto VM, Langenau DM, Barata JT. Mutant IL7R collaborates with MYC to induce T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Leukemia 2022; 36:1533-1540. [PMID: 35581375 PMCID: PMC9162918 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-022-01590-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive pediatric cancer. Amongst the wide array of driver mutations, 10% of T-ALL patients display gain-of-function mutations in the IL-7 receptor α chain (IL-7Rα, encoded by IL7R), which occur in different molecular subtypes of this disease. However, it is still unclear whether IL-7R mutational activation is sufficient to transform T-cell precursors. Also, which genes cooperate with IL7R to drive leukemogenesis remain poorly defined. Here, we demonstrate that mutant IL7R alone is capable of inducing T-ALL with long-latency in stable transgenic zebrafish and transformation is associated with MYC transcriptional activation. Additionally, we find that mutant IL7R collaborates with Myc to induce early onset T-ALL in transgenic zebrafish, supporting a model where these pathways collaborate to drive leukemogenesis. T-ALLs co-expressing mutant IL7R and Myc activate STAT5 and AKT pathways, harbor reduced numbers of apoptotic cells and remake tumors in transplanted zebrafish faster than T-ALLs expressing Myc alone. Moreover, limiting-dilution cell transplantation experiments reveal that activated IL-7R signaling increases the overall frequency of leukemia propagating cells. Our work highlights a synergy between mutant IL7R and Myc in inducing T-ALL and demonstrates that mutant IL7R enriches for leukemia propagating potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana L Oliveira
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Alexandra Veloso
- Molecular Pathology Unit, MGH Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- MGH Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, MGH, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Elaine G Garcia
- Molecular Pathology Unit, MGH Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- MGH Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, MGH, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Sowmya Iyer
- Molecular Pathology Unit, MGH Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- MGH Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, MGH, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Clara Pereira
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Vasco M Barreto
- DNA Breaks Laboratory, CEDOC - Chronic Diseases Research Center, NOVA Medical School - Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - David M Langenau
- Molecular Pathology Unit, MGH Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.
- MGH Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, MGH, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
| | - João T Barata
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
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18
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Woods AD, Berlow NE, Ortiz MV, Cruz FD, Siddiquee A, Coutinho DF, Purohit R, Freier KET, Michalek JE, Lathara M, Matlock K, Srivivasa G, Royer-Pokora B, Veselska R, Kung AL, Keller C. Bromodomain 4 inhibition leads to MYCN downregulation in Wilms tumor. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2022; 69:e29401. [PMID: 34693628 PMCID: PMC9450910 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.29401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wilms tumor is the most common childhood kidney cancer. Two distinct histological subtypes of Wilms tumor have been described: tumors lacking anaplasia (the favorable subtype) and tumors displaying anaplastic features (the unfavorable subtype). Children with favorable disease generally have a very good prognosis, whereas those with anaplasia are oftentimes refractory to standard treatments and suffer poor outcomes, leading to an unmet clinical need. MYCN dysregulation has been associated with a number of pediatric cancers including Wilms tumor. PROCEDURES In this context, we undertook a functional genomics approach to uncover novel therapeutic strategies for those patients with anaplastic Wilms tumor. Genomic analysis and in vitro experimentation demonstrate that cell growth can be reduced by modulating MYCN overexpression via bromodomain 4 (BRD4) inhibition in both anaplastic and nonanaplastic Wilms tumor models. RESULTS We observed a time-dependent reduction of MYCN and MYCC protein levels upon BRD4 inhibition in Wilms tumor cell lines, which led to cell death and proliferation suppression. BRD4 inhibition significantly reduced tumor volumes in Wilms tumor patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models. CONCLUSIONS We suggest that AZD5153, a novel dual-BRD4 inhibitor, can reduce MYCN levels in both anaplastic and nonanaplastic Wilms tumor cell lines, reduces tumor volume in Wilms tumor PDXs, and should be further explored for its therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D. Woods
- Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR USA,correspondence to: Charles Keller MD, 12655 SW Beaverdam Rd W, Beaverton OR 97005 USA, tel: 801-232-8038, fax: 270-675-3313,
| | - Noah E. Berlow
- Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR USA
| | - Michael V. Ortiz
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York USA
| | - Filemon Dela Cruz
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York USA
| | - Armaan Siddiquee
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York USA
| | - Diego F. Coutinho
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York USA
| | - Reshma Purohit
- Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR USA
| | | | - Joel E. Michalek
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Joe R. & Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX USA
| | | | | | | | - Brigitte Royer-Pokora
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Renata Veselska
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Andrew L. Kung
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York USA
| | - Charles Keller
- Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR USA,correspondence to: Charles Keller MD, 12655 SW Beaverdam Rd W, Beaverton OR 97005 USA, tel: 801-232-8038, fax: 270-675-3313,
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19
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Ruan Y, Kim HN, Ogana HA, Wan Z, Hurwitz S, Nichols C, Abdel-Azim N, Coba A, Seo S, Loh YHE, Gang EJ, Abdel-Azim H, Hsieh CL, Lieber MR, Parekh C, Pal D, Bhojwani D, Durden DL, Kim YM. Preclinical Evaluation of a Novel Dual Targeting PI3Kδ/BRD4 Inhibitor, SF2535, in B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Front Oncol 2021; 11:766888. [PMID: 34926269 PMCID: PMC8671162 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.766888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The PI3K/Akt pathway—and in particular PI3Kδ—is known for its role in drug resistant B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and it is often upregulated in refractory or relapsed B-ALL. Myc proteins are transcription factors responsible for transcribing pro-proliferative genes and c-Myc is often overexpressed in cancers. The chromatin regulator BRD4 is required for expression of c-Myc in hematologic malignancies including B-ALL. Previously, combination of BRD4 and PI3K inhibition with SF2523 was shown to successfully decrease Myc expression. However, the underlying mechanism and effect of dual inhibition of PI3Kδ/BRD4 in B-ALL remains unknown. To study this, we utilized SF2535, a novel small molecule dual inhibitor which can specifically target the PI3Kδ isoform and BRD4. We treated primary B-ALL cells with various concentrations of SF2535 and studied its effect on specific pharmacological on-target mechanisms such as apoptosis, cell cycle, cell proliferation, and adhesion molecules expression usingin vitro and in vivo models. SF2535 significantly downregulates both c-Myc mRNA and protein expression through inhibition of BRD4 at the c-Myc promoter site and decreases p-AKT expression through inhibition of the PI3Kδ/AKT pathway. SF2535 induced apoptosis in B-ALL by downregulation of BCL-2 and increased cleavage of caspase-3, caspase-7, and PARP. Moreover, SF2535 induced cell cycle arrest and decreased cell counts in B-ALL. Interestingly, SF2535 decreased the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of integrin α4, α5, α6, and β1 while increasing MFI of CXCR4, indicating that SF2535 may work through inside-out signaling of integrins. Taken together, our data provide a rationale for the clinical evaluation of targeting PI3Kδ/BRD4 in refractory or relapsed B-ALL using SF2535.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongsheng Ruan
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology, Oncology, Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hye Na Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology, Oncology, Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Heather A. Ogana
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology, Oncology, Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Zesheng Wan
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology, Oncology, Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Samantha Hurwitz
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology, Oncology, Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Cydney Nichols
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology, Oncology, Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Nour Abdel-Azim
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology, Oncology, Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Ariana Coba
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology, Oncology, Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Seyoung Seo
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology, Oncology, Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Yong-Hwee Eddie Loh
- University of Southern California (USC) Libraries Bioinformatics Services, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Eun Ji Gang
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology, Oncology, Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Hisham Abdel-Azim
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology, Oncology, Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Chih-Lin Hsieh
- University of Southern California (USC) Department of Urology, University of Southern California (USC) Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Michael R. Lieber
- University of Southern California (USC) Department of Pathology, University of Southern California (USC) Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Chintan Parekh
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology, Oncology, Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Dhananjaya Pal
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Deepa Bhojwani
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology, Oncology, Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Donald L. Durden
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
- SignalRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Yong-Mi Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology, Oncology, Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Yong-Mi Kim,
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Fregona V, Bayet M, Gerby B. Oncogene-Induced Reprogramming in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Towards Targeted Therapy of Leukemia-Initiating Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13215511. [PMID: 34771671 PMCID: PMC8582707 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13215511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a heterogeneous disease characterized by a diversity of genetic alterations, following a sophisticated and controversial organization. In this review, we present and discuss the concepts exploring the cellular, molecular and functional heterogeneity of leukemic cells. We also review the emerging evidence indicating that cell plasticity and oncogene-induced reprogramming should be considered at the biological and clinical levels as critical mechanisms for identifying and targeting leukemia-initiating cells. Abstract Our understanding of the hierarchical structure of acute leukemia has yet to be fully translated into therapeutic approaches. Indeed, chemotherapy still has to take into account the possibility that leukemia-initiating cells may have a distinct chemosensitivity profile compared to the bulk of the tumor, and therefore are spared by the current treatment, causing the relapse of the disease. Therefore, the identification of the cell-of-origin of leukemia remains a longstanding question and an exciting challenge in cancer research of the last few decades. With a particular focus on acute lymphoblastic leukemia, we present in this review the previous and current concepts exploring the phenotypic, genetic and functional heterogeneity in patients. We also discuss the benefits of using engineered mouse models to explore the early steps of leukemia development and to identify the biological mechanisms driving the emergence of leukemia-initiating cells. Finally, we describe the major prospects for the discovery of new therapeutic strategies that specifically target their aberrant stem cell-like functions.
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21
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Song X, Wang L, Wang T, Hu J, Wang J, Tu R, Su H, Jiang J, Qing G, Liu H. Synergistic targeting of CHK1 and mTOR in MYC-driven tumors. Carcinogenesis 2021; 42:448-460. [PMID: 33206174 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgaa119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Deregulation of v-myc avian myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog (MYC) occurs in a broad range of human cancers and often predicts poor prognosis and resistance to therapy. However, directly targeting oncogenic MYC remains unsuccessful, and indirectly inhibiting MYC emerges as a promising approach. Checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) is a protein kinase that coordinates the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint and protects cancer cells from excessive replicative stress. Using c-MYC-mediated T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia) and N-MYC-driven neuroblastoma as model systems, we reveal that both c-MYC and N-MYC directly bind to the CHK1 locus and activate its transcription. CHIR-124, a selective CHK1 inhibitor, impairs cell viability and induces remarkable synergistic lethality with mTOR inhibitor rapamycin in MYC-overexpressing cells. Mechanistically, rapamycin inactivates carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 2, aspartate transcarbamoylase, and dihydroorotase (CAD), the essential enzyme for the first three steps of de novo pyrimidine synthesis, and deteriorates CHIR-124-induced replicative stress. We further demonstrate that dual treatments impede T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia and neuroblastoma progression in vivo. These results suggest simultaneous targeting of CHK1 and mTOR as a novel and powerful co-treatment modality for MYC-mediated tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxue Song
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, P. R. China.,Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Liyuan Wang
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, P. R. China.,Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Tianci Wang
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Juncheng Hu
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Jingchao Wang
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Rongfu Tu
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Hexiu Su
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Jue Jiang
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Guoliang Qing
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Hudan Liu
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, P. R. China.,Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P. R. China
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22
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Tardif M, Souza A, Krajinovic M, Bittencourt H, Tran TH. Molecular-based and antibody-based targeted pharmacological approaches in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2021; 22:1871-1887. [PMID: 34011251 DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2021.1931683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Despite the significant survival improvement in childhood acutelymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 15-20% of patients continue to relapse; outcomes following relapse remain suboptimal and have room for further improvement. Advances in genomics have shed new insights on the biology of ALL, led to the discovery of novel genomically defined ALL subtypes, refined prognostic significance and revealed new therapeutic vulnerabilities.Areas covered: In this review, the authors provide an overview of the genomic landscape of childhood ALL and highlight recent advances in molecular-based and antibody-based pharmacological approaches in the treatment of childhood ALL, from emerging preclinical evidence to published results of completed clinical trials.Expert opinion: Molecularly targeted therapies and immunotherapies have expanded the horizons of ALL therapy and represent promising therapeutic avenues for high-risk and relapsed/refractory ALL. These novel therapies are now moving into frontline ALL therapy and may define new treatment paradigms that aim to further improve survival and reduce chemotherapy-related toxicities in the management of pediatric ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magalie Tardif
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Charles-Bruneau Cancer Centre, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Amalia Souza
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Charles-Bruneau Cancer Centre, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Maja Krajinovic
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Charles-Bruneau Cancer Centre, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Université De Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Henrique Bittencourt
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Charles-Bruneau Cancer Centre, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Université De Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Thai Hoa Tran
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Charles-Bruneau Cancer Centre, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Université De Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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23
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MYC in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: functional implications and targeted strategies. BLOOD SCIENCE 2021; 3:65-70. [PMID: 35402840 PMCID: PMC8974894 DOI: 10.1097/bs9.0000000000000073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematological cancer that frequently occurs in children and adolescents, which results from the transformation of immature T-cell progenitors. Aberrant cell growth and proliferation of T-ALL lymphoblasts are sustained by activation of strong oncogenic drivers. Mounting evidence highlights the critical role of the NOTCH1-MYC highway toward the initiation and progression of T-ALL. MYC has been emphasized as a primary NOTCH1 transcriptional target impinging in leukemia-initiating cell activity particularly responsible for disease onset and relapse. These findings lay a foundation of T-ALL as an ideal disease model for studying MYC-mediated cancer. The biology of MYC deregulation in T-ALL supports innovative strategies for therapeutic targeting of MYC. To summarize the relevant literature and data in recent years, we here provide a comprehensive overview of the functional importance of MYC in T-ALL development, and the molecular mechanisms underlying MYC deregulation in T-ALL. Finally, we illustrate the innovative MYC-targeted approaches that have been evaluated in pre-clinical models and shown significant efficacy. Given the complexity of T-ALL molecular pathogenesis, we propose that a combination of anti-MYC strategies with conventional chemotherapies or other targeted/immunotherapies may provide the most durable response, especially for those patients with relapsed and refractory T-ALL.
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BRD4 PROTAC degrader ARV-825 inhibits T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia by targeting 'Undruggable' Myc-pathway genes. Cancer Cell Int 2021; 21:230. [PMID: 33888130 PMCID: PMC8061034 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-021-01908-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive disease with a high risk of induction failure and poor outcomes, with relapse due to drug resistance. Recent studies show that bromodomains and extra-terminal (BET) protein inhibitors are promising anti-cancer agents. ARV-825, comprising a BET inhibitor conjugated with cereblon ligand, was recently developed to attenuate the growth of multiple tumors in vitro and in vivo. However, the functional and molecular mechanisms of ARV-825 in T-ALL remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy and potential mechanism of ARV-825 in T-ALL. Methods Expression of the BRD4 were determined in pediatric T-ALL samples and differential gene expression after ARV-825 treatment was explored by RNA-seq and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. T-ALL cell viability was measured by CCK8 assay after ARV-825 administration. Cell cycle was analyzed by propidium iodide (PI) staining and apoptosis was assessed by Annexin V/PI staining. BRD4, BRD3 and BRD2 proteins were detected by western blot in cells treated with ARV-825. The effect of ARV-825 on T-ALL cells was analyzed in vivo. The functional and molecular pathways involved in ARV-825 treatment of T-ALL were verified by western blot and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). Results BRD4 expression was higher in pediatric T-ALL samples compared with T-cells from healthy donors. High BRD4 expression indicated a poor outcome. ARV-825 suppressed cell proliferation in vitro by arresting the cell cycle and inducing apoptosis, with elevated poly-ADP ribose polymerase and cleaved caspase 3. BRD4, BRD3, and BRD2 were degraded in line with reduced cereblon expression in T-ALL cells. ARV-825 had a lower IC50 in T-ALL cells compared with JQ1, dBET1 and OTX015. ARV-825 perturbed the H3K27Ac-Myc pathway and reduced c-Myc protein levels in T-ALL cells according to RNA-seq and ChIP. In the T-ALL xenograft model, ARV-825 significantly reduced tumor growth and led to the dysregulation of Ki67 and cleaved caspase 3. Moreover, ARV-825 inhibited cell proliferation by depleting BET and c-Myc proteins in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions BRD4 indicates a poor prognosis in T-ALL. The BRD4 degrader ARV-825 can effectively suppress the proliferation and promote apoptosis of T-ALL cells via BET protein depletion and c-Myc inhibition, thus providing a new strategy for the treatment of T-ALL. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-021-01908-w.
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Fang-Fang Z, You Y, Wen-Jun L. Progress in research on childhood T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia, Notch1 signaling pathway, and its inhibitors: A review. Bosn J Basic Med Sci 2021; 21:136-144. [PMID: 32415821 PMCID: PMC7982061 DOI: 10.17305/bjbms.2020.4687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Childhood leukemia is cancer that seriously threatens the life of children in China. Poor sensitivity to chemotherapy and susceptibility to drug resistance are the reasons for the treatment of T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (T-ALL) being extremely difficult. Moreover, traditional intensive chemotherapy regimens cause great damage to children. Therefore, it is highly important to search for targeted drugs and develop a precise individualized treatment for child patients. There are activating mutations in the NOTCH1 gene in more than 50% of human T-ALLs and the Notch signaling pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of T-ALL. In this review, we summarize the progress in research on T-ALL and Notch1 signaling pathway inhibitors to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of T-ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong Fang-Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China; Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Birth Defects Clinical Medical Research Center of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, China
| | - Yang You
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China; Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Birth Defects Clinical Medical Research Center of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, China
| | - Liu Wen-Jun
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China; Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Birth Defects Clinical Medical Research Center of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, China
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26
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Gene Transactivation and Transrepression in MYC-Driven Cancers. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22073458. [PMID: 33801599 PMCID: PMC8037706 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
MYC is a proto-oncogene regulating a large number of genes involved in a plethora of cellular functions. Its deregulation results in activation of MYC gene expression and/or an increase in MYC protein stability. MYC overexpression is a hallmark of malignant growth, inducing self-renewal of stem cells and blocking senescence and cell differentiation. This review summarizes the latest advances in our understanding of MYC-mediated molecular mechanisms responsible for its oncogenic activity. Several recent findings indicate that MYC is a regulator of cancer genome and epigenome: MYC modulates expression of target genes in a site-specific manner, by recruiting chromatin remodeling co-factors at promoter regions, and at genome-wide level, by regulating the expression of several epigenetic modifiers that alter the entire chromatin structure. We also discuss novel emerging therapeutic strategies based on both direct modulation of MYC and its epigenetic cofactors.
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27
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Roderick JE, Gallagher KM, Murphy LC, O'Connor KW, Tang K, Zhang B, Brehm MA, Greiner DL, Yu J, Zhu LJ, Green MR, Kelliher MA. Prostaglandin E2 stimulates cAMP signaling and resensitizes human leukemia cells to glucocorticoid-induced cell death. Blood 2021; 137:500-512. [PMID: 33507291 PMCID: PMC7845005 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2020005712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoid (GC) resistance remains a clinical challenge in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia where response to GC is a reliable prognostic indicator. To identify GC resistance pathways, we conducted a genome-wide, survival-based, short hairpin RNA screen in murine T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cells. Genes identified in the screen interfere with cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling and are underexpressed in GC-resistant or relapsed ALL patients. Silencing of the cAMP-activating Gnas gene interfered with GC-induced gene expression, resulting in dexamethasone resistance in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrate that cAMP signaling synergizes with dexamethasone to enhance cell death in GC-resistant human T-ALL cells. We find the E prostanoid receptor 4 expressed in T-ALL samples and demonstrate that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) increases intracellular cAMP, potentiates GC-induced gene expression, and sensitizes human T-ALL samples to dexamethasone in vitro and in vivo. These findings identify PGE2 as a target for GC resensitization in relapsed pediatric T-ALL.
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MESH Headings
- 1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine/pharmacology
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Child
- Chromogranins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Colforsin/pharmacology
- Cyclic AMP/pharmacology
- Cyclic AMP/physiology
- Dexamethasone/administration & dosage
- Dexamethasone/pharmacology
- Dinoprostone/administration & dosage
- Dinoprostone/antagonists & inhibitors
- Dinoprostone/pharmacology
- Dinoprostone/physiology
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/physiology
- Female
- GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs/antagonists & inhibitors
- GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs/deficiency
- Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic/drug effects
- Humans
- Male
- Mice
- Models, Animal
- Molecular Targeted Therapy
- Neoplasm Proteins/biosynthesis
- Neoplasm Proteins/genetics
- Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/drug therapy
- Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/metabolism
- Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/pathology
- RNA Interference
- RNA, Small Interfering/genetics
- RNA, Small Interfering/pharmacology
- Radiation Chimera
- Receptors, Glucocorticoid/biosynthesis
- Receptors, Glucocorticoid/genetics
- Receptors, Glucocorticoid/physiology
- Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype/biosynthesis
- Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype/genetics
- Second Messenger Systems/drug effects
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Michael A Brehm
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA
| | - Dale L Greiner
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA
| | - Jun Yu
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology
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Cordo' V, van der Zwet JC, Canté-Barrett K, Pieters R, Meijerink JP. T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Roadmap to Targeted Therapies. Blood Cancer Discov 2021; 2:19-31. [PMID: 34661151 PMCID: PMC8447273 DOI: 10.1158/2643-3230.bcd-20-0093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematologic malignancy characterized by aberrant proliferation of immature thymocytes. Despite an overall survival of 80% in the pediatric setting, 20% of patients with T-ALL ultimately die from relapsed or refractory disease. Therefore, there is an urgent need for novel therapies. Molecular genetic analyses and sequencing studies have led to the identification of recurrent T-ALL genetic drivers. This review summarizes the main genetic drivers and targetable lesions of T-ALL and gives a comprehensive overview of the novel treatments for patients with T-ALL that are currently under clinical investigation or that are emerging from preclinical research. SIGNIFICANCE T-ALL is driven by oncogenic transcription factors that act along with secondary acquired mutations. These lesions, together with active signaling pathways, may be targeted by therapeutic agents. Bridging research and clinical practice can accelerate the testing of novel treatments in clinical trials, offering an opportunity for patients with poor outcome.
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TRIB3 promotes MYC-associated lymphoma development through suppression of UBE3B-mediated MYC degradation. Nat Commun 2020; 11:6316. [PMID: 33298911 PMCID: PMC7725785 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20107-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor MYC is deregulated in almost all human cancers, especially in aggressive lymphomas, through chromosomal translocation, amplification, and transcription hyperactivation. Here, we report that high expression of tribbles homologue 3 (TRIB3) positively correlates with elevated MYC expression in lymphoma specimens; TRIB3 deletion attenuates the initiation and progression of MYC-driven lymphoma by reducing MYC expression. Mechanistically, TRIB3 interacts with MYC to suppress E3 ubiquitin ligase UBE3B-mediated MYC ubiquitination and degradation, which enhances MYC transcriptional activity, causing high proliferation and self-renewal of lymphoma cells. Use of a peptide to disturb the TRIB3-MYC interaction together with doxorubicin reduces the tumor burden in MycEμ mice and patient-derived xenografts. The pathophysiological relevance of UBE3B, TRIB3 and MYC is further demonstrated in human lymphoma. Our study highlights a key mechanism for controlling MYC expression and a potential therapeutic option for treating lymphomas with high TRIB3-MYC expression. c-MYC is often deregulated in human cancers including lymphomas. Here, the authors show that a member of the pseudokinase family, tribbles homologue 3 (TRIB3), interacts with c-MYC to suppress c-MYC ubiquitination and degradation, leading to increased proliferation and self-renewal of lymphoma cells.
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Ratti S, Lonetti A, Follo MY, Paganelli F, Martelli AM, Chiarini F, Evangelisti C. B-ALL Complexity: Is Targeted Therapy Still A Valuable Approach for Pediatric Patients? Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12123498. [PMID: 33255367 PMCID: PMC7760974 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12123498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary B-ALL is the more frequent childhood malignancy. Even though significant improvements in patients’ survival, some pediatric B-ALL have still poor prognosis and novel strategies are needed. Recently, new genetic abnormalities and altered signaling pathways have been described, defining novel B-ALL subtypes.Innovative targeted therapeutic drugs may potentially show a great impact on the treatment of B-ALL subtypes, offering an important chance to block multiple signaling pathways and potentially improving the clinical management of B-ALL younger patients, especially for the new identified subtypes that lack efficient chemotherapeutic protocols. In this review, we shed light on the up-to-date knowledge of the novel childhood B-ALL subtypes and the altered signaling pathways that could become new druggable targets. Abstract B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) is a hematologic malignancy that arises from the clonal expansion of transformed B-cell precursors and predominately affects childhood. Even though significant progresses have been made in the treatment of B-ALL, pediatric patients’ outcome has to be furtherly increased and alternative targeted treatment strategies are required for younger patients. Over the last decade, novel approaches have been used to understand the genomic landscape and the complexity of the molecular biology of pediatric B-ALL, mainly next generation sequencing, offering important insights into new B-ALL subtypes, altered pathways, and therapeutic targets that may lead to improved risk stratification and treatments. Here, we will highlight the up-to-date knowledge of the novel B-ALL subtypes in childhood, with particular emphasis on altered signaling pathways. In addition, we will discuss the targeted therapies that showed promising results for the treatment of the different B-ALL subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Ratti
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (S.R.); (M.Y.F.); (F.P.); (A.M.M.)
| | - Annalisa Lonetti
- Giorgio Prodi Cancer Research Center, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti, 11, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Matilde Y. Follo
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (S.R.); (M.Y.F.); (F.P.); (A.M.M.)
| | - Francesca Paganelli
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (S.R.); (M.Y.F.); (F.P.); (A.M.M.)
| | - Alberto M. Martelli
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (S.R.); (M.Y.F.); (F.P.); (A.M.M.)
| | - Francesca Chiarini
- CNR Institute of Molecular Genetics Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy
- IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via Di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy
- Correspondence: (F.C.); (C.E.); Tel.: +39-051-209-1581 (F.C.); +39-051-209-1581 (C.E.)
| | - Camilla Evangelisti
- CNR Institute of Molecular Genetics Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy
- IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via Di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy
- Correspondence: (F.C.); (C.E.); Tel.: +39-051-209-1581 (F.C.); +39-051-209-1581 (C.E.)
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Lechuga GC, Napoleão-Pêgo P, Bottino CCG, Pinho RT, Provance-Jr DW, De-Simone SG. Trypanosoma cruzi Presenilin-Like Transmembrane Aspartyl Protease: Characterization and Cellular Localization. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10111564. [PMID: 33212923 PMCID: PMC7698364 DOI: 10.3390/biom10111564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The increasing detection of infections of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, in non-endemic regions beyond Latin America has risen to be a major public health issue. With an impact in the millions of people, current treatments rely on antiquated drugs that produce severe side effects and are considered nearly ineffective for the chronic phase. The minimal progress in the development of new drugs highlights the need for advances in basic research on crucial biochemical pathways in T. cruzi to identify new targets. Here, we report on the T. cruzi presenilin-like transmembrane aspartyl enzyme, a protease of the aspartic class in a unique phylogenetic subgroup with T. vivax separate from protozoans. Computational analyses suggest it contains nine transmembrane domains and an active site with the characteristic PALP motif of the A22 family. Multiple linear B-cell epitopes were identified by SPOT-synthesis analysis with Chagasic patient sera. Two were chosen to generate rabbit antisera, whose signal was primarily localized to the flagellar pocket, intracellular vesicles, and endoplasmic reticulum in parasites by whole-cell immunofluorescence. The results suggest that the parasitic presenilin-like enzyme could have a role in the secretory pathway and serve as a target for the generation of new therapeutics specific to the T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme C. Lechuga
- Center for Technological Development in Health/National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation on Diseases of Neglected Population (INCT-IDPN), FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (G.C.L.); (P.N.-P.); (C.C.G.B.); (D.W.P.-J.)
- Cellular Ultrastructure Laboratory, FIOCRUZ, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Paloma Napoleão-Pêgo
- Center for Technological Development in Health/National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation on Diseases of Neglected Population (INCT-IDPN), FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (G.C.L.); (P.N.-P.); (C.C.G.B.); (D.W.P.-J.)
| | - Carolina C. G. Bottino
- Center for Technological Development in Health/National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation on Diseases of Neglected Population (INCT-IDPN), FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (G.C.L.); (P.N.-P.); (C.C.G.B.); (D.W.P.-J.)
| | - Rosa T. Pinho
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, FIOCRUZ, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil;
| | - David W. Provance-Jr
- Center for Technological Development in Health/National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation on Diseases of Neglected Population (INCT-IDPN), FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (G.C.L.); (P.N.-P.); (C.C.G.B.); (D.W.P.-J.)
- Interdisciplinary Medical Research Laboratory, FIOCRUZ, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Salvatore G. De-Simone
- Center for Technological Development in Health/National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation on Diseases of Neglected Population (INCT-IDPN), FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (G.C.L.); (P.N.-P.); (C.C.G.B.); (D.W.P.-J.)
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói 24220-008, Brazil
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-21-3865-8183
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32
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Gallagher KM, Roderick JE, Tan SH, Tan TK, Murphy L, Yu J, Li R, O'Connor KW, Zhu J, Green MR, Sanda T, Kelliher MA. ESRRB regulates glucocorticoid gene expression in mice and patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Blood Adv 2020; 4:3154-3168. [PMID: 32658986 PMCID: PMC7362368 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020001555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Synthetic glucocorticoids (GCs), such as dexamethasone and prednisone, remain key components of therapy for patients with lymphoid malignancies. For pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), response to GCs remains the most reliable prognostic indicator; failure to respond to GC correlates with poor event-free survival. To uncover GC resistance mechanisms, we performed a genome-wide, survival-based short hairpin RNA screen and identified the orphan nuclear receptor estrogen-related receptor-β (ESRRB) as a critical transcription factor that cooperates with the GC receptor (GR) to mediate the GC gene expression signature in mouse and human ALL cells. Esrrb knockdown interfered with the expression of genes that were induced and repressed by GR and resulted in GC resistance in vitro and in vivo. Dexamethasone treatment stimulated ESRRB binding to estrogen-related receptor elements (ERREs) in canonical GC-regulated genes, and H3K27Ac Hi-chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed increased interactions between GR- and ERRE-containing regulatory regions in dexamethasone-treated human T-ALL cells. Furthermore, ESRRB agonists enhanced GC target gene expression and synergized with dexamethasone to induce leukemic cell death, indicating that ESRRB agonists may overcome GC resistance in ALL, and potentially, in other lymphoid malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayleigh M Gallagher
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA; and
| | - Justine E Roderick
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA; and
| | - Shi Hao Tan
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Center of Translational Medicine, Singapore
| | - Tze King Tan
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Center of Translational Medicine, Singapore
| | - Leonard Murphy
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA; and
| | - Jun Yu
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA; and
| | - Rui Li
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA; and
| | - Kevin W O'Connor
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA; and
| | - Julie Zhu
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA; and
| | - Michael R Green
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA; and
| | - Takaomi Sanda
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Center of Translational Medicine, Singapore
| | - Michelle A Kelliher
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA; and
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33
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Patients with relapsed T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) have limited therapeutic options and a poor prognosis. Although a variety of salvage chemotherapy regimens may be used, response rates are unsatisfactory. This article summarizes current approaches and promising emerging strategies for the treatment of relapsed T-ALL. RECENT FINDINGS Although nelarabine is the only agent approved specifically for T-ALL, recent studies have identified a variety of genetic alterations and signaling pathways that are critical in its pathogenesis. Based on these findings, a number of small-molecule inhibitors and other targeted therapies are being studied for relapsed T-ALL, including gamma-secretase inhibitors, BCL-2 inhibitors, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, and mTOR inhibitors. In addition, pre-clinical studies of chimeric antigen receptor T cells targeting CD5 and CD7 as well as the monoclonal antibody daratumumab have shown promising results for T-ALL. Relapsed T-ALL currently remains challenging to treat, but recent pre-clinical studies of targeted and immunotherapeutic agents have shown encouraging results. A number of clinical trials investigating these approaches for T-ALL are currently underway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine M McMahon
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Selina M Luger
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA. .,Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, 12th Floor South Extension, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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34
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Wang R, Yang JF, Ho F, Robertson ES, You J. Bromodomain-Containing Protein BRD4 Is Hyperphosphorylated in Mitosis. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E1637. [PMID: 32575711 PMCID: PMC7353023 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12061637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 06/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The epigenetic reader BRD4 binds acetylated histones and plays a central role in controlling cellular gene transcription and proliferation. Dysregulation of BRD4's activity has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a wide variety of cancers. While blocking BRD4 interaction with acetylated histones using BET inhibitors (BETis) has been tested in clinical trials, many cancers have acquired BETi resistance. However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood and BETi resistance remains a pressing clinical problem. We previously showed that BRD4 phosphorylation supports stronger chromatin binding and target oncogene expression. In this study, we discovered that BRD4 is hyperphosphorylated by CDK1 during mitosis and determined the major CDK1 phosphorylation sites in BRD4. Using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, we replaced endogenous BRD4 with a non-phosphorylatable mutant and demonstrated that CDK1-mediated BRD4 phosphorylation contributes to BETi resistance. CDK1 over-activation frequently observed in cancers has the potential to cause aberrant BRD4 hyperphosphorylation persisting outside of mitosis to strengthen its target gene binding and confer BETi resistance. We found that dual CDK1 and BET inhibition generates a synergistic effect in killing BETi-resistant cancer cells. Our study therefore suggests that CDK1 inhibition can be employed to overcome tumor BETi resistance and improve treatments for BRD4-associated cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranran Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (R.W.); (J.F.Y.); (F.H.)
| | - June F. Yang
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (R.W.); (J.F.Y.); (F.H.)
| | - Flora Ho
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (R.W.); (J.F.Y.); (F.H.)
| | - Erle S. Robertson
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
| | - Jianxin You
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (R.W.); (J.F.Y.); (F.H.)
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35
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Perry JM, Tao F, Roy A, Lin T, He XC, Chen S, Lu X, Nemechek J, Ruan L, Yu X, Dukes D, Moran A, Pace J, Schroeder K, Zhao M, Venkatraman A, Qian P, Li Z, Hembree M, Paulson A, He Z, Xu D, Tran TH, Deshmukh P, Nguyen CT, Kasi RM, Ryan R, Broward M, Ding S, Guest E, August K, Gamis AS, Godwin A, Sittampalam GS, Weir SJ, Li L. Overcoming Wnt-β-catenin dependent anticancer therapy resistance in leukaemia stem cells. Nat Cell Biol 2020; 22:689-700. [PMID: 32313104 PMCID: PMC8010717 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-020-0507-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Leukaemia stem cells (LSCs) underlie cancer therapy resistance but targeting these cells remains difficult. The Wnt-β-catenin and PI3K-Akt pathways cooperate to promote tumorigenesis and resistance to therapy. In a mouse model in which both pathways are activated in stem and progenitor cells, LSCs expanded under chemotherapy-induced stress. Since Akt can activate β-catenin, inhibiting this interaction might target therapy-resistant LSCs. High-throughput screening identified doxorubicin (DXR) as an inhibitor of the Akt-β-catenin interaction at low doses. Here we repurposed DXR as a targeted inhibitor rather than a broadly cytotoxic chemotherapy. Targeted DXR reduced Akt-activated β-catenin levels in chemoresistant LSCs and reduced LSC tumorigenic activity. Mechanistically, β-catenin binds multiple immune-checkpoint gene loci, and targeted DXR treatment inhibited expression of multiple immune checkpoints specifically in LSCs, including PD-L1, TIM3 and CD24. Overall, LSCs exhibit distinct properties of immune resistance that are reduced by inhibiting Akt-activated β-catenin. These findings suggest a strategy for overcoming cancer therapy resistance and immune escape.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/pharmacology
- Apoptosis
- Cell Proliferation
- Doxorubicin/pharmacology
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
- Female
- Humans
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/metabolism
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/pathology
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Knockout
- Neoplastic Stem Cells/drug effects
- Neoplastic Stem Cells/metabolism
- Neoplastic Stem Cells/pathology
- PTEN Phosphohydrolase/physiology
- Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics
- Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
- Wnt Proteins/physiology
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
- beta Catenin/physiology
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Affiliation(s)
- John M Perry
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA
- Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA
- University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
- University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Fang Tao
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA
- Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Anuradha Roy
- High Throughput Screening Laboratory, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Tara Lin
- University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Xi C He
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Shiyuan Chen
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Xiuling Lu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | | | - Linhao Ruan
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA
- Center for Cell Dynamics, Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Xiazhen Yu
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Debra Dukes
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Andrea Moran
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | | | | | - Meng Zhao
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA
- Key Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | | | - Pengxu Qian
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA
- Center of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine and Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Hematology, Zhejiang University and Zhejiang Engineering Laboratory for Stem Cell and Immunotherapy, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhenrui Li
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA
- St. Jude, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Mark Hembree
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Ariel Paulson
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Zhiquan He
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and C.S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Dong Xu
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and C.S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Thanh-Huyen Tran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, US
| | - Prashant Deshmukh
- Polymer Program, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Chi Thanh Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Rajeswari M Kasi
- Polymer Program, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Robin Ryan
- Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | | | - Sheng Ding
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Erin Guest
- Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Keith August
- Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Alan S Gamis
- Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Andrew Godwin
- University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - G Sitta Sittampalam
- University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
- Therapeutics for Rare and Neglected Diseases, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Scott J Weir
- Department of Cancer Biology, The Institute for Advancing Medical Innovation and University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Linheng Li
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Division of Medical Oncology, Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.
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36
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Canakci M, Singh K, Munkhbat O, Shanthalingam S, Mitra A, Gordon M, Osborne BA, Thayumanavan S. Targeting CD4 + Cells with Anti-CD4 Conjugated Mertansine-Loaded Nanogels. Biomacromolecules 2020; 21:2473-2481. [PMID: 32383874 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.0c00442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
CD4+ T lymphocytes play an important role in controlling many malignancies. The modulation of CD4+ T cells through immunomodulatory or cytotoxic drugs could change the course of disease progression for disorders such as autoimmunity, immunodeficiency, and cancer. Here, we demonstrate that anti-CD4 conjugated polymeric nanogels can deliver a small molecule cargo to primary CD4+ T cells and a CD4high T cell lymphoma. The antibody conjugation not only increased the uptake efficiency of the nanogel (NG) by CD4+ T cells but also decreased the non-specific uptake of the NG by CD4- lymphocytes. For T lymphoma cell lines, the mertansine-loaded conjugate displayed a dose-dependent cell growth inhibition at 17 ng/mL antibody concentration. On the other hand, antibody-drug conjugate (ADC)-type formulation of the anti-CD4 reached similar levels of cell growth inhibition only at the significantly higher concentration of 1.8 μg/mL. NG and antibody conjugates have the advantage of carrying a large payload to a defined target in a more efficient manner as it needs far less antibody to achieve a similar outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mine Canakci
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 10003, United States.,Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 10003, United States.,Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 10003, United States
| | - Khushboo Singh
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 10003, United States.,Center for Bioactive Delivery, Institute for Applied Life Sciences University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Oyuntuya Munkhbat
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 10003, United States
| | - Sudarvili Shanthalingam
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 10003, United States
| | - Ankita Mitra
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 10003, United States
| | - Mallory Gordon
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 10003, United States
| | - Barbara A Osborne
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 10003, United States.,Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 10003, United States.,Center for Bioactive Delivery, Institute for Applied Life Sciences University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - S Thayumanavan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 10003, United States.,Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 10003, United States.,Center for Bioactive Delivery, Institute for Applied Life Sciences University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
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37
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Jiang J, Wang J, Yue M, Cai X, Wang T, Wu C, Su H, Wang Y, Han M, Zhang Y, Zhu X, Jiang P, Li P, Sun Y, Xiao W, Feng H, Qing G, Liu H. Direct Phosphorylation and Stabilization of MYC by Aurora B Kinase Promote T-cell Leukemogenesis. Cancer Cell 2020; 37:200-215.e5. [PMID: 32049046 PMCID: PMC7321798 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2020.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Deregulation of MYC plays an essential role in T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), yet the mechanisms underlying its deregulation remain elusive. Herein, we identify a molecular mechanism responsible for reciprocal activation between Aurora B kinase (AURKB) and MYC. AURKB directly phosphorylates MYC at serine 67, counteracting GSK3β-directed threonine 58 phosphorylation and subsequent FBXW7-mediated proteasomal degradation. Stabilized MYC, in concert with T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia 1 (TAL1), directly activates AURKB transcription, constituting a positive feedforward loop that reinforces MYC-regulated oncogenic programs. Therefore, inhibitors of AURKB induce prominent MYC degradation concomitant with robust leukemia cell death. These findings reveal an AURKB-MYC regulatory circuit that underlies T cell leukemogenesis, and provide a rationale for therapeutic targeting of oncogenic MYC via AURKB inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jue Jiang
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Jingchao Wang
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Ming Yue
- Department of Pharmacy, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430014, China
| | - Xiaolian Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Tianci Wang
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Chao Wu
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Hexiu Su
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yanwu Wang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Meng Han
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yingchi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology and Division of Pediatric Blood Diseases Center, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - Xiaofan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology and Division of Pediatric Blood Diseases Center, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - Peng Jiang
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Peng Li
- South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China
| | - Yonghua Sun
- Departments of Pharmacology and Medicine, Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Wuhan Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Hui Feng
- Departments of Pharmacology and Medicine, Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Guoliang Qing
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Hudan Liu
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
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38
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The Role Played by Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21031098. [PMID: 32046053 PMCID: PMC7037748 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21031098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is an aggressive hematologic neoplastic disorder that arises from the clonal expansion of transformed T-cell or B-cell precursors. Thanks to progress in chemotherapy protocols, ALL outcome has significantly improved. However, drug-resistance remains an unresolved issue in the treatment of ALL and toxic effects limit dose escalation of current chemotherapeutics. Therefore, the identification of novel targeted therapies to support conventional chemotherapy is required. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is a conserved signaling axis involved in several physiological processes such as development, differentiation, and adult tissue homeostasis. As a result, deregulation of this cascade is closely related to initiation and progression of various types of cancers, including hematological malignancies. In particular, deregulation of this signaling network is involved in the transformation of healthy HSCs in leukemic stem cells (LSCs), as well as cancer cell multi-drug-resistance. This review highlights the recent findings on the role of Wnt/β-catenin in hematopoietic malignancies and provides information on the current status of Wnt/β-catenin inhibitors with respect to their therapeutic potential in the treatment of ALL.
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39
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Mu G, Chen F. Oncogenic Roles Of A Histone Methyltransferase SETDB2 In AML1-ETO Positive AML. Cancer Manag Res 2020; 12:783-792. [PMID: 32099474 PMCID: PMC7007814 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s227036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction AML1-ETO produced by t(8;21) abnomality has multiple effects on the leukemogenesis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). SET domain, bifurcated 2 (SETDB2) can mediate gene silencing by trimethylation of the ninth lysine residue of histone H3 protein (H3K9) of the promoter and has been confirmed as an oncogene in many cancers. The role of SETDB2 in AML1-ETO positive AML is not clear. Methods Quantitative reverse transcription PCR was performed to measure SETDB2 expression in bone marrow from AML patients and healthy people. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to investigate the effect of SETDB2 on prognosis of AML patients. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation were performed to investigate the regulatory mechanism of AML1-ETO on SETDB2. CCK-8 and colony formation assay were performed to measure the effect of SETDB2 on leukemic cells. Results SETDB2 is highly expressed in AML1-ETO positive AML. The overall survival, event-free and relapse-free survival rate of patients with high SETDB2 expression was lower than those of patients with low SETDB2 expression. SETDB2 is epigenetically upregulated by AML1-ETO fusion protein. Downregulation of SETDB2 expression significantly inhibits the proliferation and clonality of leukemic cells and promotes the sensitivity of leukemic cells to an epigenetic inhibitor JQ1. Conclusion AML1-ETO/SETDB2 is a novel epigenetic pathway of leukemogenesis and SETDB2 is a potential therapeutic target of t(8;21) AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangfu Mu
- Department of Hematology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, People's Republic of China
| | - Fangping Chen
- Department of Hematology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, People's Republic of China
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40
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D'Amore C, Borgo C, Sarno S, Salvi M. Role of CK2 inhibitor CX-4945 in anti-cancer combination therapy - potential clinical relevance. Cell Oncol 2020; 43:1003-1016. [PMID: 33052585 PMCID: PMC7717057 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-020-00566-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Protein kinase CK2 inhibition has long been considered as an attractive anti-cancer strategy based on the following considerations: CK2 is a pro-survival kinase, it is frequently over-expressed in human tumours and its over-expression correlates with a worse prognosis. Preclinical evidence strongly supports the feasibility of this target and, although dozens of CK2 inhibitors have been described in the literature so far, CX-4945 (silmitasertib) was the first that entered into clinical trials for the treatment of both human haematological and solid tumours. However, kinase inhibitor monotherapies turned out to be effective only in a limited number of malignancies, probably due to the multifaceted causes that underlie them, supporting the emerging view that multi-targeted approaches to treat human tumours could be more effective. CONCLUSIONS In this review, we will address combined anti-cancer therapeutic strategies described so far which involve the use of CX-4945. Data from preclinical studies clearly show the ability of CX-4945 to synergistically cooperate with different classes of anti-neoplastic agents, thereby contributing to an orchestrated anti-tumour action against multiple targets. Overall, these promising outcomes support the translation of CX-4945 combined therapies into clinical anti-cancer applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio D'Amore
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
| | - Christian Borgo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Stefania Sarno
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Mauro Salvi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
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Wang F, Lv H, Zhao B, Zhou L, Wang S, Luo J, Liu J, Shang P. Iron and leukemia: new insights for future treatments. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2019; 38:406. [PMID: 31519186 PMCID: PMC6743129 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-019-1397-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Iron, an indispensable element for life, is involved in all kinds of important physiological activities. Iron promotes cell growth and proliferation, but it also causes oxidative stress damage. The body has a strict regulation mechanism of iron metabolism due to its potential toxicity. As a cancer of the bone marrow and blood cells, leukemia threatens human health seriously. Current studies suggest that dysregulation of iron metabolism and subsequent accumulation of excess iron are closely associated with the occurrence and progress of leukemia. Specifically, excess iron promotes the development of leukemia due to the pro-oxidative nature of iron and its damaging effects on DNA. On the other hand, leukemia cells acquire large amounts of iron to maintain rapid growth and proliferation. Therefore, targeting iron metabolism may provide new insights for approaches to the treatment of leukemia. This review summarizes physiologic iron metabolism, alternations of iron metabolism in leukemia and therapeutic opportunities of targeting the altered iron metabolism in leukemia, with a focus on acute leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Wang
- School of Life Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Huanhuan Lv
- School of Life Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China.,Research & Development Institute of Northwestern Polytechnical University in Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518057, China.,Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, Institute of Special Environment Biophysics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Bin Zhao
- School of Life Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Liangfu Zhou
- School of Life Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Shenghang Wang
- School of Life Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Jie Luo
- School of Life Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Junyu Liu
- School of Life Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Peng Shang
- Research & Development Institute of Northwestern Polytechnical University in Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518057, China. .,Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, Institute of Special Environment Biophysics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China.
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42
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Das B, Pal B, Bhuyan R, Li H, Sarma A, Gayan S, Talukdar J, Sandhya S, Bhuyan S, Gogoi G, Gouw AM, Baishya D, Gotlib JR, Kataki AC, Felsher DW. MYC Regulates the HIF2α Stemness Pathway via Nanog and Sox2 to Maintain Self-Renewal in Cancer Stem Cells versus Non-Stem Cancer Cells. Cancer Res 2019; 79:4015-4025. [PMID: 31266772 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-18-2847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSC) maintain both undifferentiated self-renewing CSCs and differentiated, non-self-renewing non-CSCs through cellular division. However, molecular mechanisms that maintain self-renewal in CSCs versus non-CSCs are not yet clear. Here, we report that in a transgenic mouse model of MYC-induced T-cell leukemia, MYC, maintains self-renewal in Sca1+ CSCs versus Sca-1- non-CSCs. MYC preferentially bound to the promoter and activated hypoxia-inducible factor-2α (HIF2α) in Sca-1+ cells only. Furthermore, the reprogramming factors, Nanog and Sox2, facilitated MYC regulation of HIF2α in Sca-1+ versus Sca-1- cells. Reduced expression of HIF2α inhibited the self-renewal of Sca-1+ cells; this effect was blocked through suppression of ROS by N-acetyl cysteine or the knockdown of p53, Nanog, or Sox2. Similar results were seen in ABCG2+ CSCs versus ABCG2- non-CSCs from primary human T-cell lymphoma. Thus, MYC maintains self-renewal exclusively in CSCs by selectively binding to the promoter and activating the HIF2α stemness pathway. Identification of this stemness pathway as a unique CSC determinant may have significant therapeutic implications. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings show that the HIF2α stemness pathway maintains leukemic stem cells downstream of MYC in human and mouse T-cell leukemias. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/79/16/4015/F1.large.jpg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bikul Das
- Division of Oncology, Departments of Medicine and Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California. .,Department of Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, KaviKrishna Laboratory, Guwahati Biotech Park, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Assam, India.,Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Thoreau Laboratory for Global Health, M2D2, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, Massachusetts.,Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Forsyth Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Bidisha Pal
- Department of Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, KaviKrishna Laboratory, Guwahati Biotech Park, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Assam, India.,Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Thoreau Laboratory for Global Health, M2D2, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, Massachusetts.,Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Forsyth Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Rashmi Bhuyan
- Division of Oncology, Departments of Medicine and Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.,Department of Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, KaviKrishna Laboratory, Guwahati Biotech Park, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Assam, India.,Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Thoreau Laboratory for Global Health, M2D2, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, Massachusetts.,Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Forsyth Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Hong Li
- Division of Oncology, Departments of Medicine and Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.,Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Thoreau Laboratory for Global Health, M2D2, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, Massachusetts.,Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Forsyth Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Anupam Sarma
- Department of Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, KaviKrishna Laboratory, Guwahati Biotech Park, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Assam, India.,Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Sukanya Gayan
- Department of Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, KaviKrishna Laboratory, Guwahati Biotech Park, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Assam, India.,Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Thoreau Laboratory for Global Health, M2D2, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, Massachusetts.,Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Forsyth Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Joyeeta Talukdar
- Department of Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, KaviKrishna Laboratory, Guwahati Biotech Park, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Sorra Sandhya
- Department of Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, KaviKrishna Laboratory, Guwahati Biotech Park, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Seema Bhuyan
- Department of Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, KaviKrishna Laboratory, Guwahati Biotech Park, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Gayatri Gogoi
- Department of Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, KaviKrishna Laboratory, Guwahati Biotech Park, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Assam, India.,Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Forsyth Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts.,Department of Pathology, Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, Assam, India
| | - Arvin M Gouw
- Division of Oncology, Departments of Medicine and Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Debabrat Baishya
- Department of Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, KaviKrishna Laboratory, Guwahati Biotech Park, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Assam, India.,Department of Bioengineering and Technology, Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Jason R Gotlib
- Division of Hematology, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford, California
| | - Amal C Kataki
- Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Dean W Felsher
- Division of Oncology, Departments of Medicine and Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.
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An integrated transcriptional switch at the β-selection checkpoint determines T cell survival, development and leukaemogenesis. Biochem Soc Trans 2019; 47:1077-1089. [DOI: 10.1042/bst20180414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Revised: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
In T cell development, a pivotal decision-making stage, termed β-selection, integrates a TCRβ checkpoint to coordinate survival, proliferation and differentiation to an αβ T cell. Here, we review how transcriptional regulation coordinates fate determination in early T cell development to enable β-selection. Errors in this transcription control can trigger T cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. We describe how the β-selection checkpoint goes awry in leukaemic transformation.
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44
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Strategies to Overcome Resistance Mechanisms in T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20123021. [PMID: 31226848 PMCID: PMC6627878 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20123021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemoresistance is a major cause of recurrence and death from T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), both in adult and pediatric patients. In the majority of cases, drug-resistant disease is treated by selecting a combination of other drugs, without understanding the molecular mechanisms by which malignant cells escape chemotherapeutic treatments, even though a more detailed genomic characterization and the identification of actionable disease targets may enable informed decision of new agents to improve patient outcomes. In this work, we describe pathways of resistance to common chemotherapeutic agents including glucocorticoids and review the resistance mechanisms to targeted therapy such as IL7R, PI3K-AKT-mTOR, NOTCH1, BRD4/MYC, Cyclin D3: CDK4/CDK6, BCL2 inhibitors, and selective inhibitors of nuclear export (SINE). Finally, to overcome the limitations of the current trial-and-error method, we summarize the experiences of anti-cancer drug sensitivity resistance profiling (DSRP) approaches as a rapid and relevant strategy to infer drug activity and provide functional information to assist clinical decision one patient at a time.
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45
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Sheikh‐Zeineddini N, Bashash D, Safaroghli‐Azar A, Riyahi N, Shabestari RM, Janzamin E, Safa M. Suppression of c‐Myc using 10058‐F4 exerts caspase‐3‐dependent apoptosis and intensifies the antileukemic effect of vincristine in pre‐B acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells. J Cell Biochem 2019; 120:14004-14016. [DOI: 10.1002/jcb.28675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2018] [Revised: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Negar Sheikh‐Zeineddini
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
| | - Davood Bashash
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
| | - Ava Safaroghli‐Azar
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
| | - Niknam Riyahi
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
| | - Rima Manafi Shabestari
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, Faculty of Allied Medicine Iran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
| | | | - Majid Safa
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, Faculty of Allied Medicine Iran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
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46
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García-Gutiérrez L, Delgado MD, León J. MYC Oncogene Contributions to Release of Cell Cycle Brakes. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:E244. [PMID: 30909496 PMCID: PMC6470592 DOI: 10.3390/genes10030244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2019] [Revised: 03/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Promotion of the cell cycle is a major oncogenic mechanism of the oncogene c-MYC (MYC). MYC promotes the cell cycle by not only activating or inducing cyclins and CDKs but also through the downregulation or the impairment of the activity of a set of proteins that act as cell-cycle brakes. This review is focused on the role of MYC as a cell-cycle brake releaser i.e., how MYC stimulates the cell cycle mainly through the functional inactivation of cell cycle inhibitors. MYC antagonizes the activities and/or the expression levels of p15, ARF, p21, and p27. The mechanism involved differs for each protein. p15 (encoded by CDKN2B) and p21 (CDKN1A) are repressed by MYC at the transcriptional level. In contrast, MYC activates ARF, which contributes to the apoptosis induced by high MYC levels. At least in some cells types, MYC inhibits the transcription of the p27 gene (CDKN1B) but also enhances p27's degradation through the upregulation of components of ubiquitin ligases complexes. The effect of MYC on cell-cycle brakes also opens the possibility of antitumoral therapies based on synthetic lethal interactions involving MYC and CDKs, for which a series of inhibitors are being developed and tested in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía García-Gutiérrez
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria (IBBTEC) CSIC-Universidad de Cantabria and Department of Biología Molecular, Universidad de Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain.
- Current address: Systems Biology Ireland, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - María Dolores Delgado
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria (IBBTEC) CSIC-Universidad de Cantabria and Department of Biología Molecular, Universidad de Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain.
| | - Javier León
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria (IBBTEC) CSIC-Universidad de Cantabria and Department of Biología Molecular, Universidad de Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain.
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47
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Olivas-Aguirre M, Pottosin I, Dobrovinskaya O. Mitochondria as emerging targets for therapies against T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. J Leukoc Biol 2019; 105:935-946. [PMID: 30698851 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.5vmr0818-330rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) comprises a heterogeneous group of hematologic malignancies, arising from diverse genetic alterations in the early lymphocyte development. T-cell subtype of ALL (T-ALL) accounts for about 15% and 25% of ALL in children and adults, respectively. Being less frequent among ALL subtypes, T-ALL represents a high-risk factor for poor prognosis due to its aggressiveness and resistance to common antileukemic drugs. Mitochondria were widely explored recently as a target for anticancer treatment because they are involved in a metabolic reprogramming of a cancer cell and play key roles in reactive oxygen species generation, Ca2+ signaling, and cell death induction. Accordingly, a new class of anticancer compounds named mitocans has been developed, which target mitochondria at distinct crucial points to promote their dysfunction and subsequent cell death. The present review analyses the role of mitochondria in malignant reprogramming and emerging therapeutic strategies targeting mitochondria as an "Achilles' heel" in T-ALL, with an emphasis on BH3 mimetics, sequestering pro-survival BCL proteins and voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC)1-directed drugs, which promote the suppression of aerobic glycolysis, VDAC1 closure, mitochondrial Ca2+ overload, stoppage of the oxidative phosphorylation, oxidative stress, and release of proapoptotic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Olivas-Aguirre
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Ionic Transport Regulation, University Center for Biomedical Research, University of Colima, Colima, Mexico
| | - Igor Pottosin
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Ionic Transport Regulation, University Center for Biomedical Research, University of Colima, Colima, Mexico
| | - Oxana Dobrovinskaya
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Ionic Transport Regulation, University Center for Biomedical Research, University of Colima, Colima, Mexico
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48
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Estrogen-independent Myc overexpression confers endocrine therapy resistance on breast cancer cells expressing ERαY537S and ERαD538G mutations. Cancer Lett 2018; 442:373-382. [PMID: 30419347 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2018.10.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Revised: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Approximately 30% of metastatic breast cancers harbor estrogen receptor α (ERα) mutations associated with resistance to endocrine therapy and reduced survival. Consistent with their constitutive proliferation, T47D and MCF7 cells in which wild-type ERα is replaced by the most common mutations, ERαY537S and ERαD538G, exhibit partially estrogen-independent gene expression. A novel invasion/dissociation/rebinding assay demonstrated that the mutant cells have a higher tendency to dissociate from invasion sites and rebind to a second site. Compared to ERαD538G breast tumors, ERαY537S tumors exhibited a dramatic increase in lung metastasis. Transcriptome analysis showed that the ERαY537S and ERαD538G mutations each elicit a unique gene expression profile. Gene set enrichment analysis showed Myc target pathways are highly induced in mutant cells. Moreover, chromatin immunoprecipitation showed constitutive, fulvestrant-resistant, recruitment of ERα mutants to the Myc enhancer region, resulting in estrogen-independent Myc overexpression in mutant cells and tumors. Knockdown and virus transduction showed Myc is necessary and sufficient for ligand-independent proliferation of the mutant cells but had no effect on metastasis-related phenotypes. Thus, Myc plays a key role in aggressive proliferation-related phenotypes exhibited by breast cancer cells expressing ERα mutations.
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49
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Yazdi N, Houshmand M, Atashi A, Kazemi A, Najmedini AA, Zarif MN. Long noncoding RNA PVT1: potential oncogene in the development of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Turk J Biol 2018; 42:405-413. [PMID: 30930624 PMCID: PMC6438125 DOI: 10.3906/biy-1801-46] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence shows that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in various cellular processes, and that plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1), a newly described oncogene that interacts with various molecules such as p15, p16, NOP2, and c-Myc, is a major contributing factor in tumor development. However, the role of this oncogene remains unknown in the pathogenesis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most prevalent form of childhood leukemia. In this study, we first measure the expression level of PVT1 in a Jurkat cell line, then small interfering (siRNA) PVT1 is applied to demonstrate the impact of PVT1 knockdown in apoptosis, proliferation, the cell cycle, and its downstream targets. Our findings show that lncRNA was significantly higher in the ALL cell line than normal lymphocytes and that PVT1 knock-down increased the rate of apoptosis, caused G0/G1 arrest in the cell cycle, reduced the proliferation rate, and, above all, reduced the stability of c-Myc protein. All findings were confirmed at the molecular level. Our results may indicate the role of PVT1 knock-down in the suppression of ALL development and might provide an option for targeted therapy for leukemic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narjes Yazdi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Tehran Medical Branch, Islamic Azad University , Tehran , Iran
| | - Mohammad Houshmand
- Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine , Tehran , Iran
| | - Amir Atashi
- Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering Research Center, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences , Shahroud , Iran
| | - Alireza Kazemi
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Ali Anjam Najmedini
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Mahin Nikougoftar Zarif
- Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine , Tehran , Iran
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50
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The Myc/Max/Mxd Network Is a Target of Mutated Flt3 Signaling in Hematopoietic Stem Cells in Flt3-ITD-Induced Myeloproliferative Disease. Stem Cells Int 2018; 2018:3286949. [PMID: 30420889 PMCID: PMC6215545 DOI: 10.1155/2018/3286949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has poor prognosis due to various mutations, e.g., in the FLT3 gene. Therefore, it is important to identify pathways regulated by the activated Flt3 receptor for the discovery of new therapeutic targets. The Myc network of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes is involved in mechanisms regulating proliferation and survival of cells, including that of the hematopoietic system. In this study, we evaluated the expression of the Myc oncogenes and Mxd antagonists in hematopoietic stem cell and myeloid progenitor populations in the Flt3-ITD-knockin myeloproliferative mouse model. Our data shows that the expression of Myc network genes is changed in Flt3-ITD mice compared with the wild type. Mycn is increased in multipotent progenitors and in the pre-GM compartment of myeloid progenitors in the ITD mice while the expression of several genes in the tumor suppressor Mxd family, including Mxd1, Mxd2, and Mxd4, is concomitantly downregulated, as well as the expression of the Mxd-related gene Mnt and the transcriptional activator Miz-1. LSKCD150+CD48− hematopoietic long-term stem cells are decreased in the Flt3-ITD cells while multipotent progenitors are increased. Of note, PKC412-mediated inhibition of Flt3-ITD signaling results in downregulation of cMyc and upregulation of the Myc antagonists Mxd1, Mxd2, and Mxd4. Our data provides new mechanistic insights into downstream alterations upon aberrant Flt3 signaling and rationale for combination therapies for tyrosine kinase inhibitors with Myc antagonists in treating AML.
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